Common 6-pounder cast iron cannon could fire solid balls, exploding shells or scatter "grape" shot into advancing infantry. |
Firing demonstration at Shiloh National Battlefield of a bronze 10-pounder. Each unit of artillery required five or six men to operate and there were four to six units in each battery. |
After mopping the bore, a measured powder charge is rammed into the breech followed by the ball or shell ordered by the artillery officer. |
After the cannon is loaded, the command to fire is given and the crew braces for the sound of the explosion. |
Notice the amount of smoke from only one blast of a lightweight demonstration charge. Imagine how soon the forest would fill from the smoke of a dozen units firing as fast as they could reload. |
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